Empirical scrutiny of a familiar narrative: sense of control in anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Psychological control has been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in the variability, natural course, and treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). However both the empirical and theoretical literatures suggest that this relationship is incompletely understood. Employing a multidimensional control inventory to overcome problems identified in previous research, this study examines the relationship between psychological sense of control and clinical variability of AN in 51 women. An adverse overall sense of control, along with reliance on specific means of gaining control was associated with more severe eating disturbance. Greater use of a negative-assertive style of gaining control was associated with a longer time since first diagnosis, while desire for control was significantly associated with menstrual status. Finally, self-induced vomiting was associated with specific means of obtaining control, while use of laxatives was associated with reduced control in the domain of body. Such findings have implications for future research and the application of control constructs in treatment.

Disgust Sensitivity and Anorexia Nervosa

“…Furthermore, AN patients seem to have a high desire for control (e.g. Surgenor, Horn, & Hudson, ). These specific features of AN compared with other ED might explain the high score on the domain magical thinking compared with the results of previous mixed‐diagnose studies.…”

Self‐liking and self‐competence: relationship to symptoms of anorexia nervosa

“…There are multiple reasons to believe that this could be a fertile area of research. First, in the same way that multidimensional aspects of psychological control are associated with symptom variability in AN (Surgenor, Horn, & Hudson, 2003), so too may different aspects of self-esteem. Second, it is frequently assumed that any changes occurring in self-esteem and eating disorder features would be in the same direction: that is, they will get better together.…”

The Power Semantics in Self and Other Repertory Grid Representations: A Comparison between Obese and Normal-Weight Adult Women

“…The communication style of families with a member suffering from eating disorders is generally characterized by stiffness, dysfunctional pattern (such as by entangled, undifferentiated relationships, or maladaptive communication), and is permeated by semantics related to control and interactional dominance (Minuchin et al, 1978; Selvini-Palazzoli, 1988; Jarman et al, 1997; Lattimore et al, 2000; Surgenor et al, 2002, 2003; Treasure et al, 2008). …”